Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature Practice Exam

What is the purpose of a literary device?

1. To create a narrative structure

2. To gain an artistic effect

3. To provide background information

4. To confuse the reader

The correct answer is: To gain an artistic effect

A literary device serves a key role in enriching the text and enhancing the overall experience for the reader. By using these devices, writers can achieve various artistic effects that contribute to the depth, meaning, and emotional resonance of their work. For example, metaphors and similes create vivid imagery, while alliteration and rhyme can add a musical quality to poetry. The use of foreshadowing builds suspense, and symbolism allows for deeper interpretations of themes and characters. While narrative structure is important, it is only one aspect of storytelling and does not encompass the breadth of what literary devices achieve. Providing background information can help set the context but is not the primary goal of a literary device. Confusing the reader is generally not a goal of attending to literary devices; rather, effective use of such devices clarifies and intensifies a writer's message, drawing the reader into the narrative more fully. Therefore, the use of literary devices is fundamentally about achieving artistic effects that elevate the text beyond mere words.